Lead Strategy Associate / Strategy Associate

Markel; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 93,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Paid time off and holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

Markel is seeking a Lead Strategy Associate/Strategy Associate to join the Richmond-based Strategy team. You will report to the Director of Strategy and work closely with the Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer, partnering with senior leaders including the Insurance CEO and division heads to define Markel's strategic direction and execute key initiatives.

This role offers exposure across the enterprise in a fast-moving environment, developing problem-solving, financial, and

Qualifications

• Relevant experience: 2+ years in management consulting or similar in-house role (insurance experience is a plus).
• Strong structured problem-solving skills with ability to break complex issues into logical components and develop clear recommendations.
• Strong communication skills; able to engage with senior leaders and craft compelling narratives.
• Demonstrated collaboration across functions and teams.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams, prioritize, and stay flexible.
• Financial acumen with strong Excel proficiency.
• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of Markel Insurance's overall strategy.
• Conduct market research, macro-trend monitoring, and competitive intelligence for senior leadership.
• Support business partners on topics from product and growth strategies to operational challenges.
• Assist in preparing executive-ready presentations for the CEO, ELT, Board, and senior stakeholders.
• Support corporate development activities including acquisition opportunity reviews and market scans.
• Drive cross-functional strategic initiatives with underwriting, operations, finance, and technology.
• Build relationships with business leaders to provide data-driven insights and challenge assumptions.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Team player

Multi-tasking

Financial acumen

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it. The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem‑solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs. Join us and play your part in something special! Join Markel at a time of transformation and become part of a high‑impact team shaping enterprise strategy and supporting critical decision‑making!

We’re looking for a Lead Strategy Associate/ Strategy Associate to join our Richmond‑based Strategy team. In this role, you will report to the Director of Strategy and work closely with the Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer. You will partner directly with senior business leaders—including the Insurance CEO, division presidents, and functional heads—to help define Markel’s strategic direction and support execution of key initiatives.

You’ll contribute fresh thinking, structured analysis, and insight to some of the most important questions facing the organization. This is a rare opportunity to gain meaningful exposure across the enterprise while developing strong problem‑solving, financial, and communication skills in a fast‑moving, entrepreneurial environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Contributing to continuous development of the overall strategy for Markel Insurance
• Conducting market research, macro‑trend monitoring, and competitive intelligence to help keep senior leadership informed on industry developments and competitor activity.
• Supporting business partners on a broad range of business‑critical topics, from product and growth strategies to operational and organizational challenges and opportunities
• Assisting in the preparation of executive‑ready presentations for the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and other senior stakeholders.
• Supporting corporate development activities, including preliminary reviews of acquisition opportunities, market scans, and analytical support across the deal lifecycle.
• Helping drive cross‑functional strategic initiatives, partnering closely with teams across underwriting, operations, finance, and technology.
• Building strong relationships with business leaders to support strategy development, challenge assumptions, and bring data‑driven insight to help them grow their business
• Providing timely, accurate support for ad‑hoc strategic questions from the Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer, Insurance CEO, and senior executives.

What We’re Looking For

• Relevant experience~ 2+ years experience in management consulting or similar in‑house role (experience in insurance is a plus, not a must)
• Problem solving ability~ Strong structured problem‑solving skills, with the ability to break complex issues into logical components and develop clear recommendations.
• Strong communication skills~ Comfortable engaging with senior leaders, craft compelling narratives and able to effectively challenge the status quo to shift the way of thinking
• Team player~ Demonstrated collaborative ability, both within immediate team and wider company. Ability to build relationships across functions.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams~ Ability to run multiple efforts simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and maintain a flexible, solutions‑oriented mindset.
• Results‑oriented growth mindset~ Intellectually curious, goals-driven, motivated and a proactive approach to learning both the insurance industry
• Financial Acumen~ Strong financial modeling and analytical skills, with high proficiency in Excel.
• Education~ Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, or a related field.

US Work Authorization

US Work Authorization required. Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future.

Pay information~

The base salary offered for the successful candidate will be based on compensable factors such as job‑relevant education, job‑relevant experience, training, licensure, demonstrated competencies, geographic location, and other factors. The national average salary range for the Strategy Associate position is $92,880 - $127,710/year with a 15% bonus potential.

Who we are~

Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) a fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory and investment operations around the world.

We’re all about people | We win together | We strive for better

We enjoy the everyday | We think further

What’s in it for you~

In keeping with the values of the Markel Style, we strive to support our employees in living their lives to the fullest at home and at work.

• We offer competitive benefit programs that help meet our diverse and changing environment as well as support our employees’ needs at all stages of life.
• All full‑time employees have the option to select from multiple health, dental and vision insurance plan options and optional life, disability, and AD&D insurance.
• We also offer a 401(k) with employer match contributions, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, PTO, corporate holidays and floating holidays, parental leave.

Are you ready to play your part?

No agencies please.

Markel is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of any protected characteristic. This includes race; color; sex; religion; creed; national origin or place of birth; ancestry; age; disability; affectional or sexual orientation; gender expression or identity; genetic information, sickle cell trait, or atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait; refusal to submit to genetic tests or make genetic test results available; medical condition; citizenship status; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, familial status, or family responsibilities; military or veteran status, including unfavorable discharge from military service; personal appearance, height, or weight; matriculation or political affiliation; expunged juvenile records; arrest and court records where prohibited by applicable law; status as a victim of domestic or sexual violence; public assistance status; order of protection status; status as a smoker or nonsmoker; membership or activity in local commissions; the use or nonuse of lawful products off employer premises during non-work hours; declining to attend meetings or participate in communications about religious or political matters; or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Should you require any accommodation through the application process, please send an e-mail to the [e-mail].